[R-meta] Three-level meta-analysis using netmeta

Mon, Mar 22, 2021 12:28 AM

Many thanks, Wolfgang!
We are also performing meta-regression analyses using this three-level
network approach, so, as you mentioned, this is a major advantage of using
metafor on this project. Your comments were really helpful!

Best,
Natan

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Em qua., 17 de mar. de 2021 ?s 09:39, Viechtbauer, Wolfgang (SP) <
wolfgang.viechtbauer at maastrichtuniversity.nl> escreveu:

Dear Natan,

Gerta, Guido, and colleagues (i.e., the netmeta authors) should really be
the ones to address your question about netmeta. But I am once again
procrastinating with my own work by answering questions on this mailing
list and once I get going, I am hard to stop, so let me say just a few
words about this.

netmeta is indeed a very nice choice for a network meta-analysis as it
simplifies some of the intricacies involved, compared to the more manual
process required when fitting such models with metafor. However, you can
run network meta-analyses also with metafor, if you know how to set things
up (and are willing to do a bit of 'post-processing' of the results). So
that is the disadvantage of using metafor for these purposes. The advantage
is that it will allow you to expand on the underlying models in essentially
arbitrary ways, including the addition of additional levels and/or random
effects to capture further dependencies. Also, one can run meta-regression
analyses in this context, which I believe is not (yet) possible with
netmeta (although this is something that may be in the works?).

If the more complex data structure in the present context require the
specification of corresponding models, then I do not see why using metafor
is actually a problem; quite the opposite.

Best,
Wolfgang

-----Original Message-----
From: R-sig-meta-analysis [mailto:

r-sig-meta-analysis-bounces at r-project.org] On

Behalf Of Natan Gosmann
Sent: Wednesday, 17 March, 2021 9:25
To: r-sig-meta-analysis at r-project.org
Subject: [R-meta] Three-level meta-analysis using netmeta

Dear all,

Our group recently submitted for publication a three-level network
meta-analysis that was sent to peer review and one aspect of concern that
was raised during the review process is the fact that we performed our

data

analysis using metafor (through methods described by Wolfgang elsewhere).
Reviewers stated that moving to netmeta might be preferable, given that it
is specifically designed for network meta-analyses. Although we recognize
the great value of netmeta for network meta-analyses, we are not sure that
currently the package is able to perform three-level meta-analyses (even
after carefully reading its detailed manual). Can we perform our data
analysis (using the three-level/network approach) using netmeta? If yes,
any suggestion or reference with any guidance on how to do it would be of
great help.

Best,
Natan Gosmann

[R-meta] Three-level meta-analysis using netmeta

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